Entertainment
6 April 9, 2008
The Rambler
Music students tour Bean Town visit to the von Huene Workshop, one of the nation’s top-ranked makers of early instruments, primarily recorders; a student-led tour of the New England Conservatory, where 2007 music GUEST CONTRIBUTOR graduate Mark Appling is now a graduate student; attendance at a concert by the Boston Members of Texas Wesleyan’s music department visited greater Boston over spring Symphony Orchestra, with legendary pianist Leon Fleisher playing the Beethoven Emperor break to fulfill a degree requirement for music majors. The group was led by music profes- Concerto and half-day visits to two art museums – the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, with its sors John Fisher and Jerry Bierschenk and included students Andrea Talladino, Caitlin spectacular music instrument collection room, as well as the utterly unique, privately-owned Fanning, Jeremy Smith, James Brennaman, Janna McKinley, Jessica Steels, Ryan Amador, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The group also took two separate full-day trips. The Roman Coronado and Sylvie Ndjungu. Adjunct first was to Concord, Mass., which included Sleepy vocal instructor Joe Davisson, department coordinaHollow Cemetery, Walden Pond and the Old North tor Dan Loudermilk and parent Sandra McKinley Bridge, which is referred to by Ralph Waldo Emerson: rounded out the list of travelers. “By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag The students were all from the Music Travel and to April’s breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmEnrichment class, a class in which all music majors ers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world.” at Texas Wesleyan must enroll once during his or The other day trip was an outing to Salem, Mass., her undergraduate career. Trips are offered annually with its Witch Museum and House of the Seven Gables. and alternate between domestic and international The final day of the trip was free for follow up and destinations. Previous sites chosen have been New optional activities. Some took the opportunity to ride the York City (’04, ‘06); Salzburg-Vienna (’05) and three-and-a-half-hour day train to New York City and Paris (’07). In order to receive credit, students are back. Others set out for Cape Cod by car, and still others required to attend group activities and keep a jourvisited the Boston Red Sox’s home venue, Fenway Park. nal of their experiences. There was even a bonus: on the first night, a pro“My trip to Paris was amazing,” said sophoposal – and acceptance! – of marriage. All in all, the stumore Stephanie Darbo. “I wouldn’t have traded it Photo courtesy of John Fisher dents seemed very pleased with this trip because they saw for anything.” Wesleyan music students tour historic Boston during spring break. and learned so much. Certainly all came home with memScheduled activities included welcome and ories to last a lifetime. farewell banquets in locally-owned, upscale Boston restaurants; an all-day walk on the 16stop Freedom Trail (which was enjoyable despite being windy and bitterly cold that day!); a
DR. JOHN FISHER
Horror flick leaves its audience in Ruinns T
here’s something in the dark waiting for you, and if you’re not careful, it could kill you. Scared yet? What if I tell you the thing you are supposed to fear is a plant? Yes, a killer plant. That’s the order of the day in Dreamworks’ latest horror release The Ruins, a surprisingly scary flick that also features one of cinema’s most original villains in years. We begin the story predictably enough with four friends (it’s always four, isn’t it?) vacationing in a foreign country. This time they’re in Mexico and decide to join a fellow tourist (there’s always a plus one!) on the search for his brother, who hasn’t returned from the site of an archeological dig at an ancient Mayan temple. After a strange and violent SHAWN R. run-in with the local Mayans, the group is forced to the top of the temple, the natives POLING refusing to let them leave. At this point, The Ruins seems like just another Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Hostel or Turistas, pitting the silly Americans against inbred cannibals, organ harvesters or seekers of human sacrifice. Probably thinking the same thing, the tourists journey into the temple, only to discover that the real enemy is flesh eating/parasitic foliage, and the last thing the Mayans want is for the dreaded plant life to spread outside the temple. Trapped between two untimely and violent deaths, the five youths struggle to survive, hoping they will be found and rescued. Now you are probably thinking, “what’s so scary about a plant?” The notion of a killer plant most often brings to mind Little Shop of Horrors or Day of the Triffids or something equally silly. But if you think about it, carnivorous plants, like the venus fly trap, do exist. And they don’t actually eat animals, but instead absorb their nutrients, and the iron in human blood would be awfully beneficial to a hungry plant. Taking that into consideration, and without spoiling the scares or the plants’ tactics, the killer plants of The Ruins almost seem realistic. That brings me to the gore. If the evil plants are realistic, the gore of the film might as well be real. Shy or squeamish viewers need not apply, because almost all of the imaginatively graphic violence happens on-screen and up close. After watching countless horror films, even I had to cover my eyes at certain moments. The film’s climax was met with a resounding “Oh, my God!” from the packed audience. And for those looking for something besides scares and gore, the film’s young cast packs quite a punch. Supporting actors Laura Ramsey (The Covenant), Shawn Ashmore (must-see indie thriller Solstice, X-Men’s Iceman) and Jonathan Tucker (Pulse) bring the proper amount of dread, paranoia and fear of the unknown to their characters, all of which are given plenty of dramatic and scary situations to work with. That being said, all three talented actors are blown out of the water by Jena Malone (Saved and Stepmom), a truly gifted young actress who really brings the film to life. Every moment of her electric performance was perfection, creating one of the most believable and strong lead female characters in a long time. The biggest surprise of the film was that it was actually entertaining. I’m not saying The Ruins is my favorite horror film, but it is without a doubt the best horror film of 2008 (not to mention the first one to actually scare viewers). It has scares, atmosphere, dread, a solid plot and even some beautiful scenery of Mexico for good measure. So if you’ve been disappointed by Shutter, One Missed Call, or any of the other lame horror films of 2008, hurry up and catch The Ruins. After all, the next one on the way to theaters is the Prom Night remake, and that can’t be any good. Photo courtesy of Dreamworks Studios
The Ruins takes an unlikely plot and creates one of the goriest and scariest movies of the year.
A
Wednesday
L OOK
On Campus:
9
*Methodist Student Movement meeting: Poly UMC, noon, free lunch served
To submit an event for the calender, e-mail twurambler@yahoo.com.
On Campus:
12
* Little Me:Thad Smotherman Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
On Campus:
10
Friday On Campus
11 Jazz Band brings the tunes COLLEEN BURNIE
*Baptist Student Ministry: Sid *The Rambler staff meeting: * Gay Straight Alliance Stella Russell Hall lobby, Richardson Building, noon, meeting: B17 basement of 12:15 p.m. free lunch served the library, 12:15 p.m.
AHEAD Saturday
Thursday
Shawn Poling is a senior English major and the editor-in-chief for The Rambler.
Sunday On Campus:
13
* Little Me: Thad Smotherman Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Off Campus: * Ram Jam: University Mall, 11 a.m. * Movie Releases: Smart People and Prom Night.
Monday On Campus:
14
* Little Me:Thad Smotherman * Last day to drop a class Theatre, 2 p.m. Off Campus: * Rahr & Sons Brewery - Free Off Campus: Tour and Tasting: Rahr & Sons * A.R.T.S.: Fort Worth Brewery, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. * Fort Worth Symphony Community Arts Center Orchestra - Beethoven! 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Free) Beethoven! Beethoven!: Bass Performance Hall, 2 p.m
Tuesday Off Campus:
15
* Dinner & A Movie: Ferre Ristorante & Bar, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m ($25.95) DVD Releases: Juno and Lawrence of Arabia (two-disc collector’s editon.)
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Wesleyan’s jazz band is gearing up for a good time in this spring’s concert. “There is less of a theme this semester than there was in last semester’s swing concert,” said Jeremy Smith, a junior who will play the bass guitar and sing in the concert. “You might notice a lot of solo work in this concert.” The production will include more than 10 pieces to excite the ears and get the foot tapping. Two of these were also in last spring’s concert. “Rompin’ At the Reno is from last semester’s concert,” said Smith. “It was an audience favorite, and we just had to do it again, and the same for Kay-Do.” Dr. Bryan English, director of the band will play trombone, his primary instrument, throughout the entire concert. “It’s always fun,” said Smith. “Having
the director playing with the band instead of directing requires a lot of listening amongst the musicians. We really have to work as a team instead of individuals.” Smith will be adding vocal features on three of the concert’s pieces, one of which, Last Pay Day, he arranged. The concert will feature some of the ensemble members in solo roles. “Billy Privette on the alto sax gets a lot of opportunity to let loose,” said Smith. “And of course Ricky Johnson on the keyboard is always incredible.” There is something for everyone in the lineup, including a piece that was written for intermission. “Intermission Riff is exactly what it sounds like. Originally performed as a transition, it’s just a good fun tune.” The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. April 10 in Martin Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.